Flora Mae Hickman, 51, of Fresno, alleges she was molested by Mahony while a student at San Joaquin Memorial Catholic High School in 1969.

Hickman said she has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and is taking medication for depression. She told The Associated Press that she was knocked unconscious while fighting with students and woke to find the "bottom" portion of her clothing removed and Mahony, then a monsignor in Fresno, "over her."

Hickman said she could not remember many details of what happened.

"She claimed that happened with 40 different youths watching. There's no way that is going to happen in front of all those people," Monsignor John Esquivel said after leading mass Sunday at St. John's Cathedral in Fresno. "I don't believe the allegations are true."

Hickman went to Esquivel with the allegations last month.

The Fresno Police Department is investigating, and Mahony said he was cooperating.

Hickman said she has been abused by many other people, including relatives.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that Hickman said she was motivated to come forward, in part, because she needs a cash settlement from the church, but Hickman denied in an interview with the AP that she was coming forward because she needed money.

"I said I should get compensation, but I didn't say I was in it to get compensation," she said.

The AP does not normally identify alleged victims in sexual assault cases, but Hickman gave permission for her name to be used.

Mahony revealed the accusation Friday night and denied it.

"My personal integrity and reputation demand that I take all possible steps to refute this false allegation," Mahony said.

Mahony issued his statement after a Los Angeles radio station obtained and quoted from church e-mails about abuse cases that refer briefly to the woman's claim.

On Thursday, confidential e-mails between Mahony and his staff, including his lawyers, were obtained by radio station KFI. The e-mails contained references to the church's sex abuse scandal and Mahony's concerns about the way the archdiocese was responding.

Attorneys for the archdiocese lost a court hearing Thursday to keep KFI and the Los Angeles Times from quoting from the e-mails.

Los Angeles police have said they are investigating reports that the archdiocese has removed six to 12 priests accused of sexual abuse in cases dating back 10 years. The e-mails suggest the number of priests removed is eight.

In one e-mail, Mahony wrote that the archdiocese erred by not turning over the names of three priests to police.

The names of the priests have now been turned over to police. Church officials said the e-mails were illegally obtained.

Hickman told of another incident involving Mahony during which she claims he hit her. The incidents occurred between 1969 and Hickman's graduation the next year, she said.

A 1970 San Joaquin Memorial Catholic High School yearbook contains a photo of Hickman, confirming she was a member of the graduating class that year.

Mahony, 66, became the head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1985 and was elevated to Cardinal in 1991.